Nina Simone's music is incredibly honest. That's like saying, "Why does Jesus' word still stay around?" It's incredibly honest and it's good.

Sacred cows make very poor gladiators.

I like what they're doing. I think they're doing a good job, and I know that a lot of people are upset by them. These are great young men and women, and they're bold, and they are saying to America, "Something's going to change." I'm very proud of them.

I wish that she had had a black loon because I don't think that Nina [Simone] did. I have always had - I've been very fortunate - a group of little old ladies that I love and who love me, and who turned and to whom I turn at different times.

It's really just interesting to ask: why not? And see where that takes me.

Favorite poems are like favorite children. We definitely have them but we never tell as the others would have their feelings hurt.

Baseball is already the world's most tranquil sport. It is probably the only active sport where you are not seriously required to be alive to play.